I have always loved constellation embroidery that uses gemstone beads as the stars. However whenever I see any patterns they are always the zodiac signs and 1. I don’t believe in the zodiac and 2. Mine is Gemini and looks like a pretty boring constellation.
So I started looking into other constellations so I could create my own pattern when I found the constellation Lyra.
Lyra Constellation (free pattern - google docs)
The Lyra constellation is actually tied to one of my favourite Greek myths, and one that always stuck with me about Orpheus and Eurydice.
I ended up finding an old bracelet that I never wear anymore and cut out the string so that I could repurpose some of the beads into this craft.
Most of you have probably heard this myth or at least have heard references to it in popular culture, so to sum it up really quickly:
Eurydice (Orpheus’ wife) dies from a snake bite and Orpheus (a great musician who plays a lyre) gets super depressed and can’t live without her so he goes down to the Underworld to plead Hades to get his wife back. Hades is so moved by Orpheus’ music that he agrees, under one condition, Orpheus can’t look behind him and must take Hades at his word. Orpheus getting near to the end of the opening to the Underworld is worried that he can’t hear Eurydice’s footsteps and looks back behind him, to check that she is still there, thus breaking his agreement to Hades, resulting in Eurydice unable to leave the Underworld. Upon Orpheus’ death Zeus placed the constellation Lyra into the heavens in honor of his beautiful music and also to honor the great love Orpheus had for Eurydice.
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